I have a Solara 2006 convertible. The stitching began to wear out just as I reached 36,000 miles. The service dept. authorized the restitching at n/c. The top shop owner noticed the puckering across one of the seams and told me I have about one more year with this top before I'll have to replace it.

Details:I have the tan top. I do not garage or cover the car. I live in Southern California which experiences what some experts refer to as desert conditions, i.e. wide swings of extreme hot and cold within short periods of time.

Go to TRDparts4u.com and drill down to your model/year and find the edge guards in your color. (or just go here: http://trdparts4u.com/MC-DCHJ-FIE.aspx ) They're not cheap at ~ $50 for a pair, but they are quality and they're metal. I purchased and installed them and they fit the contours perfectly. One thing you need to do is trim any excess sealer from inside the door itself (where the skin wraps around) and repaint the trimmed area so be sure you have the appropriate touch-up paint color which you can order there also. Be careful so you don't cut into the metal when trimming. They seem less susceptible to chipping, but at least they protect the door.

I've got an '08 convertible. The solution is quite simple--and inexpensive. I went to my local auto parts store and bought two protective door edge strips (I got black, but they also had silver) that are flexible, have an adhesive inner edge, and can be cut to the desire length. Been on for the past two years with no problems. Cost? Less than $5.